In a recent turn of events, the district administration of Gurugram has sanctioned the demolition of five residential towers within the Chintels Paradiso complex situated in Sector 109. Deemed unfit for occupation, Towers D, E, F, G, and H of the housing society are to be razed as per an official declaration made on Tuesday.
This directive follows a communication by the property developers to Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who approved the order this Monday. The developers had appealed for the immediate evacuation and subsequent dismantling of the specified towers.
The precarious condition of these towers was unanimously agreed upon following the analysis of audit reports prepared by an expert team from IIT Delhi, which were then furnished to the local administration for scrutiny. The reports cemented the view that the structures were indeed unsafe for habitation.
Notably, the call for deconstruction comes in the shadow of a tragic incident that occurred on February 10, 2022, when six floors of Tower D suffered a partial collapse. The catastrophe claimed the lives of two female residents and has since incited contention between the building’s occupants and its developers.
“The demolition of towers D, E, F, G, and H of Group Housing Society, namely M/s Chintel Paradiso Pvt Ltd, Sector-109, Gurugram, is permitted, subject to compliance with the policy and guidelines of the concerned departments,” stated the order.
In his response to the builder’s urgent email appeal, Yadav expounded that this recent decision was deliberated upon by a committee. This group, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Hitesh Kumar Meena, included representatives from the various departments involved.
Furthermore, the order explicitly underlines the importance of keeping to legal and regulatory requirements, “It is pertinent to mention here that this permission does not provide immunity from any other applicable state or central law, act, or policy related to the subjected work. Moreover, in the event of mishaps or negligence at the site, the builder would bear exclusive responsibility, with appropriate measures to follow. The builder is also expected to submit a report on a fortnightly basis to showcase compliance to the concerned authorities,” it continued.
Confirming the issuance of the demolition order, Meena emphasized the gravity of the situation and the due diligence that would be observed throughout the demolition process.
Following up on the unfortunate event of the partial collapse, the ordered demolition has become a focal point not only for resident safety but also for the legal implications it has for construction norms and safety regulations in the region. These developments have rekindled widespread public discourse concerning the structural integrity of burgeoning high rises and the safety standards applied in their construction.
The move implicates a broader inspection of residential safety regulations within the burgeoning urban landscape of Gurugram, often considered a symbol of India’s rapid urban development. The demolition represents not only a physical dismantling of structures found wanting but also an administrative and regulatory introspection, urging stronger compliance with safety norms.
It remains to be seen how the clearance will be carried out and what measures will be put into place to prevent such hazardous occurrences from repeating in the future, ensuring the lives and investments of residents are guarded with the utmost priority.
As the city waits with a watchful eye, the administrative bodies, along with the builders, are expected to navigate through this complex procedure with caution and precision to avert any further loss and mitigate risks to public safety. The next steps will unveil how Gurugram, a rising metropolis, learns and evolves from this challenging episode.
